Check endorsing machine



Jan. 5, 1943. AL 2,307,150

CHECK ENDORS ING MACHINE Filed July 31, 1941 1 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS fi/PTHu/P E. MILLER BY rm? I a. w/M'E/esau ATTORNEY 1943. A. E. MILLER ET/u. 2,

CHECK ENDORSING MACHINE Filed July 51, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS EFT/40R E-MILLEE 6 VICTOR 0.W/L/4El?5a/V ATTORNEY Jan. 5, 1943.

A. E. MILLER ETAL 2,307,150

CHECK ENDOR'SINGMACHINE Filed July 51, 1941 4 SheetsSheet 3 "INVENTORS RZTHl/E E LLe g CTOR 0- 'W/urE/esa,

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 5, 1943 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE CHECK ENDORSING MACHINE Application July 31, 1941, Serial No. 404,822

7 Claims. 101. 101-2) This invention relates to printing mechanisms generally but specifically to endorsing mechanisms for checks for printing the bank endorsement on checks passed through the machine. This invention may be viewed as an improvement upon the check endorsing mechanism shown and described in the patent to S. Brand, 2,237,269, dated April 1, 1941.

The improvement shown in the last mentioned patent is incorporated in a combined accounting and check sorting machine fully shown and described in Patent No. 2,079,442 to Fuller et al., dated May 4, 1937. The endorsing mechanism shown in the patent to Brand, No. 2,237,269 is provided with an Endorse key by means of which the endorsing mechanism may be called into or out of operation in accordance with the endorsing requirements. In combinedi check sorting and endorsing operations, it is frequently desirable to endorse checks deposited into selected sorting compartments and not endorse the others and the endorsing mechanism shown in the Brand Patent No. 2,237,269 could only provide for this selective use by the frequent manipulation of the Endorse key. This manipulation of the Endorse key to condition the machine according to the different requirements greatly slowed up the operation of the machine and it is to overcome this disadvantage that the present arrangement has been devised.

The main object of the present invention is to provide for the selective endorsement of the sorted checks which will avoid the necessity of repeated manipulation of the Endorse key and to carry out selective endorsing operations automatically without attention on the part of the operator.

A still further object of the invention is to enable the control of the endorsing mechanism by the carrier for the sorting compartments in accordance with the position of the carrier and, therefore, according to the selected compartments the endorsing mechanism is called into or out of operation.

A more specific object is to facilitate attachment of the selective control cam devices for the endorsing mechanism by enabling their attachment to existing machines and which may be performed by the user or serviceman for such machines so as to vary the selective control according to variable requirements.

A still more specific object of the invention is to provide a selective control for the endorsing mechanism which may be disabled at. will to 55 drum H1 in either direction so asto select aprovide for continuous repeated operation of the endorsing mechanism.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode. which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation showing the right side of the check sorting machine to which the present improvements are preferably applied.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of a one revolution clutch mechanism and its electromagnetic control thereof, and the electrical contacts forming part of the electrical arrangement to cause endorsing operations.

Fig, 3 is a partial sectional view of the sorting drum showing particularly the normal relationship between the endorsing and check feeding mechanism and the check sorting compartments.

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation disclosing the reciprocable frame which carries the endorsing cylinder, platen, and feeding rollers.

Fig, 5 is' a sectional View taken on the line 55 of Fig. 8, and shows particularly the clutch for the endorsing feeding rollers and the electrical control to effect selective endorsement in accordance with the compartments which are selected.

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the endorse control key and contacts controlled thereby for placing the endorsing mechanism into operation,

Fig. 7 is a detail view of certain of the parts which cause the automatic clutch engagement of the printing cylinder of the endorsing mechanism with a drive shaft, and constitutes the same mechanism shown in Fig. 9 of Patent No- Fig, 8 i a plan view of theendorsing mechanism and inking mechanism therefor.

Fig. 9 is a detail view showing the electromagnetic control for the endorsing mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a wiring diagram involving the elec- V vtrical instrumentalities of the present machine.

The present invention is preferably shown in connection with a check or document sorting machine fully shown and described in Patent No. 2,079,442, dated May 4, 1937.

A machine of this type is provided with a sorting drum l0 (Fig. 1) loosely mounted upon a shaft I I and rotated by a chain [2 from a drive shaft l3 driven by a motor. The shaft l3 may be rotated in either direction so as to rotate desired sorting compartment carried by the drum ID by the shorter of two directions of rotation. By means of keys l4, of which there is one for each compartment, the extent of rotation and the direction of rotation of drum I is predetermined, and said keys control an electromagnetically stop mechanism generally designated by the numeral i5 in Fig. 1 which cooperates with lugs l6 carried by the drum If to stop the drum at the desired position. All of the means for carrying out the above functions are well known and fully described in the above cited patent.

In Fig. 3 there will be seen a portion of the sorting drum l0 and several of the sorting compartments I1. The checks or documents l8 to be sorted are taken from a pile and are individually inserted by hand in a feeding chute l9 between feeding rollers to be hereinafter described. The feeding operation is initiated by the depression of a motor release bar 23 (Figs. 1 and 2) and in the present machine effects the endorsing of the check or document.

Motor release bar Check feeding and endorsing operations are rendered operative when the motor release bar is depressed. As best shown in Fig. 1, the motor release bar 26 is positioned exteriorly of the check and document sorting machine for a manual depression. The motor release bar 20 (Fig. 2) is carried by a slidable key stem 2| carrying a pin 22 which, when the key stem is depressed, closes contacts 23. This completes a circuit as shown in Fig. 2, from the line side 24, through contacts 23 now closed to clutch control magnets 25 to the line side 26 thus causing energization of magnets 25.

Referring to Fig. 2, there will be seen a showing of ratchet clutch wheel 2'! which constantly rotates by driving means now to be described. Secured to a drive shaft 28 is a sprocket gear (not shown) around which passes an endless chain 29 (Fig. l) surrounding a sprocket gear 30 attached to a shaft 3|. Attached to said shaft 3| is a pinion 32 meshing with a gear 33 loosely mounted on a shaft 34 and to which gear 33 the ratchet wheel 21 is secured.

Attached to the shaft 34 is a disk 35 carrying a spring pressed clutch pawl 35 having a tail 3'! normally engaged by a shoulder 38 of a clutch control arm 38. From Fig. 2, it will be seen that the armature of magnets 25. is integral with the arm 39 so that energization of magnets 25 will rock the clutch control arm 39 to remove shoulder 38 from the tail 3'! thereby permitting a spring 4| to rock the clutch pawl 38 into engagement with the ratchet wheel 21 thereby rotating the drive shaft 34. When manual pressure on the motor release bar is relieved, a suitable spring will'raise the key stem 2| permitting contacts 23 to open to cause the deenergization of the clutch control magnets 25 and such opening of contacts 23 is efiected before shaft 34 has effected a full rotation so that at the termination of a single revolution of shaft 34, the tail 3! will strike the shoulder 38 and will engage the tail 3'! so as to rock the clutch pawl 36 and disengage it from the ratchet wheel 21. The movement of the armature 40 and the clutch control arm 39 for this purpose is effected by means of a spring 43 which is connected to the armature 40 which is operative when the clutch control magnets 25 are deenergized. Thus, by the above described mechanism the shaft 34 is given a complete rotation to effect functions now to be described.

C'heck feeding mechanism After the drum III has been positioned accord ing to the selector key I4 depressed, the check l8 to be endorsed or sorted is inserted in the aperture is (Fig. 3) and the motor release bar 23 is then depressed to cause it to feed the inserted check into the selected compartment by feeding means new to be described.

The check is fed into the compartment by feed rollers comprising a platen roller 5| an an endorser printing cylinder 50 and a pair of smaller feed rollers 52. All of these rollers normally occupy the position shown in Fig. 3 and in their upper elevated positions the rollers 52 are free of the sorting drum to permit the unobstructed rotation thereof and this position also places the rollers 50-5! near the entrance chute l9. Upon an operation of the check feeding mechanism the rollers are lowered to bring the lower rollers 52 into the selected sorting compartment [1.

Secured to a rock shaft 53 (Fig. 4) is a pair of spaced frame plates 54 carrying a shaft 55 upon which is journalled a frame to be later described carrying the platen roller 5|. The shaft 56 upon which is journalled the printing cylinder 59 is carried by upwardly extending brackets 51 (Fig. 4) one secured to each of the side frame plates 54. The rollers 52 are carried by shafts 5B and 59, the latter shaft being carried by the frame plates 54 and the shaft 59 is supported between adjustable brackets Ell pivoted on shaft 55 and adjustably secured to the frame plates 54 by screws 5|.

Also secured to the rock shaft 53 is a cam arm 66 carrying followers engaging complementary earns 61 secured to the shaft 34 which, it will be remembered, makes in Fig. 4 a complete counterclockwise rotation for each check feeding operation. At the proper time the cams 57 rock the shaft 53 and frame plates 54 clockwise to bring the rollers 52 into the entrance of the selected compartment. At this time the rollers are now rotated by means now to be described.

Attached to the shaft 34 is a gear 68 (Fig. 4) in mesh with an intermediate gear 69 loose on a fixed stud l0 and which irrespective of the lowering of the frame plates 54 drives a gear H loose on the shaft 53. The gear H meshes with a gear 12 (Fig. 4) fast on the shaft 55. A gear 13 (Fig. 3) fast to the shaft 55 on the opposite side of the frame plate 54 from the gear 12 meshes with a gear 14 fast on the shaft 56. The counterclockwise rotation of the gear 68 through the train of gears just described rotates the gear 14, the shaft 56, and as will be later described through a clutch mechanism the printing cylinder 50 will be rotated thereby.

The gear 14 meshes with an intermediate gear 15 (Fig. 3) which, in turn, meshes with a gear 16 secured to the shaft 59, and the gear 16 meshes with a gear 17 fast on the shaft 58. This causes the feed rollers 52 on the shafts 59 and 58 to rotate in opposite directions so as to receive and feed the check fed by rollers 50 and 5| into the selected compartment.

Endorsing mechanism While the machine may be arranged to cause the endorsement of each check, it is preferable to provide for a control of the endorsing mechanism, and this is preferably placed under control of a key (Fig. 6) designated Endorse." This key is depressed when the endorsing mechanism is to be used either for selective endorsement or for the endorsement of each check.

In the present machine the printing cylinde 59 is connected to the shaft 56 by a clutch described as follows:

The shaft 56 has attached thereto a clutch disk 8| (Fig. which is in the plane of a clutch pawl 82 pivoted at 93 to a disk 84 which is secured to the printing cylinder 59. The clutch pawl 82 is provided with a tooth or lug 85 which is adapted to engage 89 of the clutch disk 9|. The clutch tooth 85 is prevented from normally engaging the tooth 89 by a clutch control arm 81 which normally engages an extremity of the clutch pawl 82 but when the arm 9'! is rocked counterclockwise it will be disengaged from the extremity of the clutch pawl 82 to cause a spring 88 connected to the clutch pawl 82 to rock the latter so that the tooth 85 engages the tooth 89 of the disk 8|. With the clutch engagement now effected the disk 84, and therefore, the printing cylinder 59 will now be rotated and at the end of a complete revolution of the disk the extremity of the clutch pawl 82 will now strike the arm 8'! which has again been positioned as shown in Fig. 5, as will be later described, to thus disengage the tooth 85 from the tooth 89 of the disk 8|.

In the present machine the ratio of the driving gears 68, 69, II, l2, I3, and I4 is such as to rotate shaft 59 two revolutions, for reasons to be presently explained, but it is evident that the printing cylinder 59 will be given only a single revolution so that only one endorsement will be effected on the check or document sorted.

The means for rocking the clutch control arm 81 Will now be described. As shown in Fig. 4 and also at the lower part of Fig. 8, the side frame plates 54 carry a rod 89 which is secured thereto to prevent its rotation by any desirable means. The arm 81' is an extension or side arm of a bail 99 which is loosely mounted on the rod 89. As best shown in Fig. 7, an arm 9i is loosely mounted on the shaft 89 and between the arm M and a second extension or side arm 92 of bail 99 there is interconnected a spring 93.

As best shown in Fig. 5, a spring 99 is connected between the bail 99 and a stud secured to one of a pair of frame plates 95 so as to tend to rock the bail 99 counterclockwise to disengage arm 81 from pawl 82. However, the arm 9| (Fig. 7) has a lug 96 which bears against the arm 92 and since the interconnected spring 93 causes the arms 9i and 92 to function as a unit it will be seen that the spring 94 (Fig. 5) causes the lug 96 (Fig. I) to bear against a profile cam 97 secured to the shaft 56. It will be recalled that the depression of the motor release bar 29 will cause shaft 34 to rotate and by the train of gears described, the shaft 56. The complementary cams 91 have an initial dwell so that the frame carrying the roll-' ers 59, 5|, 52 will be held in normal upward position during the initial rotation of shafts 34 and 56. The lug 96, therefore, will drop to the low part of cam .91 effected by the action of spring 94 removing the clutch control arm 91 from the clutch pawl 92 and causing the engagement of the clutch and thus the rotation of the endorsing rollers 59 and 5! before the frame carrying rollers 59, 5I, 52 is lowered. As the cam 9'! (Fig. '7) rotates, the arm 9I will be gradually rocked by being raised, and through the interconnected spring 93 the arm 92 will also be rocked, causing bail 9M0 be q kedc o kwise to hrin clutchnonof .the .bail .99.

trol arm 81 to such a position as to intercept and engage the pawl ,82 when one revolution of the clutch has been effected.

An extenstion of one of the side plates (Fig. 5) carries a stud I93 on which is pivotally mounted a spring urged latch arm I94 (see also Fig. 6) having a shoulder engaging a third extension or side arm I95 of the bail 99. The latch arm I94 has a tail I99 underlying a lever I39. It will be evident that while cam 9'! (Fig. 7) will, in each operation, tend to effect the clutch engagement by permitting bail 99 to rock counterclockwise, this operation can only be effected if the latch arm I94 has been rocked by the lever I39 to disengage it from the extension or side arm I95. Assuming that the latch arm I94 has been rocked to unlatch the bail 99 and that the latter has been rocked counterclockwise, the clutch will now be engaged and after this engagement, the frame carrying rollers 59, 5|, 52 will be lowered. When the frame is in its lower position, a one revolution of the clutch is effected and the arm 81 will be positively restored to its normal position to disengage the clutch. When the bail 99 is reversely rocked clockwise in this operation, the side arm I95 will be rocked in the same direction, enabling the latch arm I94 to again engage the side arm I95; thus latching the bail 99 in position to cause the arm Bl to retain its engagement with the clutch pawl 52 so that another revolution of the printing cylinder 59 cannot be effected.

The selective endorsement of checks, which means the selective engagement of the clutch, is determined by the selective energization of a solenoid I3I. The lever I39 is pivoted to the core I32 of the solenoid I3I by a stud I39 (Fig. 9) and the lever I39 is guided for rocking movement in a slotted stud I33a, the lever having a rearward tail :54 underlying a stationary stud I35; it being obvious by this construction that the cooperation of the tail I39 and the stud I35 provides the fulcrum of the lever I39. Obviously, when the solenoid I3I is energized, the lever I39 will be rocked so as to rock the latch arm I99, thereby unlatching the bail 99 to permit the clutch engagement in the manner previously described. It was also indicated previously that endorsing operations, either selective or endorsement of all the checks, is effected when the key 89 is depressed and when this key is depressed it will be noted that it will be depressed downwardly against the action of the spring I35 (Fig. 6) so that the engagement of the shoulder I31 with a portion I38 of a detent plate I39 will latch the key 89 in its depressed position and when in such depressed position, a tail I99 of the key 89 will close contacts MI. The function of such contacts will be subsequently described in detail. It is also desirable to prevent the engagement of the clutch if a check has not been properly inserted so as to be fed thus preventing the inked type of the printing cylinder 59 from contacting with the platen roller 5I and. thus smearing the next check. This is provided for by the following described means.

Each of the frame plates 95 has secured thereto a collar I99 (Fig. 8) pinned by a pin II2 to the fixed rod 89 and by this means the frame plates 95 are held stationary. Each of the frame plates 95 carries a pivot pin H3 (Fig. 5) upon which is loosely mounted a ball I I9 and said bail carries a pair of side arms II5 having lugs IIB. The bail H4 also carries a stud Ill (Fig. 5) normally engaging a fourth extension or arm II8 Obviously when a check is in serted in the chute I9 and sufliciently to be between the bite of the feeding rollers HI'IHI and rollers 505I the lower edge of the check engaging the lugs H6 will rock the bail H4 against the action of a light spring H9 (Fig. 8) thus removing the stud H! from the extension or arm H8. This will unlock'bail 90 at this point and it is evident, therefore, that the clutch will only be engaged when a check is properly inserted.

Usually the width of the checks to be sorted and endorsed is greater than the width of the check endorser cylinder and platen 5|, so it is desirable to provide additional feeding rollers to feed the check. To this end, the shaft 55 carries a plurality of resilient feeding rollers HI] (Fig. 5) cooperating with similar rollers III also driven by the shaft 56. It is evident that although a single revolution is given to the printing cylinder the feeding rollers HIl-I H and 52 will continue to feed the check to completely feed it to the selected sorting compartment. For nonendorsing operations only the feeding rollers HO-IH and rollers 52 will effect the feeding operation since the printing cylinder 50 will not be rotated.

The printing elements of the printing cylinder 50, coact with a rubber impression platen 5I (Figs. 3 and 5) which is loosely mounted on a rod I25 and said rod is carried by side plates I26 Selective endorsement Referring to Fig. there will be seen the electrical circuit whereby the selective energization of the solenoid I 3I may be effected to cause the selective endorsement of checks. The circuit shown extends from the line 24 through contacts I 42 which, as shown in Fig. 2 are closed upon the initial depression of the motor release bar 26, the contacts being so arranged that a slight depression of the motor release bar will first close the contacts I42 and thereafter the contacts 23. From contacts I42 the circuit then extends to and through contacts I4I, it being recalled that contacts I4I are closed when the Endorse key 80 is latched in depressed position, thence through contacts I43 which are normally closed, to the solenoid I3I and to the line 26.

Assuming that the contacts I4I are closed. and contacts I43 are closed which occurs when checks fed into a selected compartment are to be endorsed, when the motor release bar is depressed contacts I42 first close to effect the energization of the solenoid I3I. The latter will rock the lever I36 (Fig. 9) to rock the latch anm I04 and thereby release the bail 90, the continued energization of the solenoid by the depression of the motor release bar 20 retaining the latch pawl !04 in rocked position until bail 96 subsequently rocks. It will be recalled that the closure of the contacts 23 by the motor release bar 20 will cause the engagement of the clutch shown in Fig. 2 which thereupon causes the shaft 56 to rotate, a slight rotation of the shaft enabling cam 91 (Fig. 7) to be freed of the lug 96 so that bail 90 may be rocked. The rocking of this bail, it will be recalled, will enable The platen the clutch engagement of the endorsing mechanism with the drive shaft 56. The endorsing mechanism will, therefore, operate and endorse the check which is fed to the preseslected compartment I I.

To provide for the selective endorsement of checks in accordance with the compartments selected, provision is made to open contacts I43 whenever a check is to be fed to a selected compartment and which checks are not to be endorsed. This is preferably provided for by attaching to the top of a radially extending separator plate I5I (Fig. 5), a cam plate I52. The separator plates I5I correspond to similarly designated elements in the patent to Fuller et al., 2,142,352, dated January 3, 1939, it being noted that such plates form the walls for the sorting compartments H. The assembly for such separator plates I5I includes a screw I53 and since there is provision at each compartment for receiving a screw I53, the cam plates I52 may be secured by screws I53 to the plates I5I of selected compartments so as to selectively cause the opening of the contacts I43. Underlying the top blade of contacts I43 is a member I56 of insulating material which is carried by a plate I54 pivoted at I55. The plate I54 has downwardly extending portions carrying a roller I58 in the plane of the cam plates I52. It will be noted that when a selected sorting compartment is not to receive checks which are endorsed, the cam I52 will not be attached to one of the separator plates I 5I of the compartment but will be attached to a plate which is two compartments away from the one into which the checks are fed. This is simply due to the relative location of the roller I 58 and the check feeding rollers. In the last mentioned patent, the selection of the sorting compartments is effected by the depression of the compartment keys I4 (Fig. l) and the sorting drum will rotate in one direction or the other, depending upon the shorter direction it is necessary for the drum to rotate to select the compartment. In either direction of rotation, the cam plates I52 will contact with the roller I58 and open the contacts I43. When contacts I43 are open, due to the selection of a compartment which is not to receive endorsed checks, it will be obvious from Fig. 10 that the depression of the motor release bar 20 will not effect the energization of the solenoid I3I. Such checks which are to be fed to the selected compartment will be fed thereto without endorsement thereon. By suitably positioning the cam plates I52, selective endorsement may be effected for selected compartments, the attachment of the cam plates I52 to the compartment separator plates I5I being facilitated by the screws I53.

It is desirable at times that the selective endorsing mechanism be thrown out of operation so that all the checks which are fed to the compartments may be endorsed. This is preferably carried out by providing a toggle type switch (Figs. 5 and 10) which is of a conventional structure so arranged that upon movement of the toggle switch lever I51, contacts will be closed which short circuit the contacts I 43. Therefore, irrespective of the positioning of a cam plate I52 to open contacts I43, the solenoid I3! will be energized when the motor release bar 20 is depressed. The result of this arrangement is that all the checks will be endorsed.

Inking mechanism The details of the inking mechanism are not given herein since they are fully shown and described in the patent to S. Brand, 2,237,269, dated April 1, 1941. Reference may be had to this patent for a more complete description of this part of the machine, it being observed that the inking of the plates of the printing cylinder 50 is provided by means of ink absorbed felt rollers l6!) and I61. These inking rollers are carried by the same frame carrying the endorsing rollers so that the inking roller It!) will be contacted by the endorsing electroplates as the printing cylinder rotates to thus ink the type for each endorsing operation. Thereafter as the printing cylinder rotates, the inked type will transfer an impression to the check to be endorsed.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spriit of the invention. It is the intention therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a check endorsing means for sorting checks and optionally endorsing selected checks sorted into a plurality of compartments, the combination of a main operating means check feeding mechanism, endorsing and platen rollers, manually operated means, means rendered effective upon a manipulation of said manually operated means to cause the operation of the check feeding mechanism to feed a check to a selected compartment irrespective whether said check is endorsed, means for effecting the operation of said endorsing and platen rollers by said main operating means upon the manipulation of the manually operated means, and means for controlling said last named means comprising a plurality of control means selectively effective in ac cordance With the compartments selected for optionally causing the operation of the endorsing and platen rollers.

2. In a check endorsing means for sorting checks individually and optionally endorsing se lected checks sorted into a plurality of compartments, the combination of a main operating means, check feeding mechanism, endorsing and platen rollers, manually operated means, means rendered effective upon a manipulation of said manually operated means to cause the operation of the check feeding mechanism to feed a check to a selected compartment irrespective whether said check is endorsed, electro-magnetio means for effecting the operation of said endorsing and platen rollers by said main operating means upon the manipulation of the manually operated means, and means for controlling said electromagnetic means comprising a plurality of contact operating devices for optionally causing in accordance with the compartments selected the operation of the endorsing and platen rollers.

3. In a check endorsing means for sorting checks individually and optionally endorsing selected checks sorted into a plurality of compartments, the combination of a main operating means, check feeding mechanism, endorsing and platen rollers, manually operated means, means rendered effective upon a manipulation of said manually operated means to cause the operation of the check feeding mechanism to feed a check to a selected compartment irrespective whether said check is endorsed, electro-magnetic means energized for effecting the operation of said endorsing and platen rollers by said main operating means, a circuit for energizing said electro-mag netic means closed by contacts closed upon each manipulation of the manually operated means and controlled by supplemental contacts, and means for selectively controlling said supplemental contacts comprising a plurality of cam devices positionable to operate said supplemental contacts in accordance with the compartments selected.

4. In an endorsing machine for optionally endorsing sorted checks, said machine including a movable member carrying a plurality of sorting compartments selected by the positioning of the member, the combination of a main drive shaft. check feeding devices comprising an endorsing platen roller and a printing endorsing roller, said check feeding devices cooperable with a selected compartment to feed a check therein, means for enabling said platen and endorsing rollers to endorse a check as they are driven by said main drive shaft, and operation control means carried by the movable member and in accordance with its position to determine by controlling said last named means whether the latter is to be rendered effective.

5. In an endorsing machine for optionally endorsing sorted checks, said machine including a movable member carrying a plurality of sorting compartments selected by the positioning of the member, the combination of a main drive shaft, check feeding devices comprising an endorsing platen roller and a printing endorsing roller, said check feeding devices cooperable with a selected compartment to feed a check therein, manually operable means, means rendered effective upon each manipulation of the manually operable means for connecting said main drive shaft to said platen and endorsing rollers to effect the rotation thereof to endorse a check, and operation control means carried by the movable member and in accordance with its position to determine whether said connecting means i to be rendered effective upon the manipulation of the manually operable means.

6. In an endorsing machine for optionally endorsing sorted checks, said machine including a movable member carrying a plurality of sorting compartments selected by the positioning of the member, the combination of a main drive shaft, check feeding devices comprising an endorsing platen roller and a printing endorsing roller, said check feeding devices cooperable with a selected compartment to feed a check therein, manually operable means, means rendered effective upon each manipulation of the manually operable means for connecting said main drive shaft to said platen and endorsing rollers to effect the rotation thereof to endorse a check, and a plurality of operation control means attached to the movable member at different positions and in accordance with its position to determine by the presence or absence of a control means whether said connecting means is to be rendered effective upon the manipulation of the manually operable means.

7. In an endorsing machine for optionally endorsing sorted checks, said machine including a movable member carrying a plurality of sorting compartments selected by the extent of movement of the member, the combination of a main drive shaft, check feeding devices comprising an endorsing platen roller and a printing endorsing roller, said check feeding devices cooperable with a selected compartment to feed a check therein, manually operable means, operable, after the movement of said member to select a compartment, means rendered efiective upon each manipulation of the manually operable means for connecting said main drive shaft to said platen and endorsing rollers to effect the rotation thereof to endorse a check, and a plurality of operation control means attached to the movable member and in accordance with its predetermined movement to select a compartment to predetermine before the manipulation of the manually operable means whether said connecting means is to be rendered efiective upon the manipulation of the manually operable means.

VICTOR O. WILKERSON.

ARTHUR E. MIILER. 

